Nigeria has expanded an air cargo corridor established under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) through a partnership with RwandAir, providing exporters with a second carrier option on the Johannesburg route and extending the network to Kigali, Lusaka and Harare.
The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI) this month formally launched the expanded Nigeria-East and Southern Africa Air Cargo Corridor in partnership with RwandAir.
The Nigeria-East and Southern Africa Air Cargo Corridor was launched in 2025 through a partnership with Uganda Airlines, providing access to Entebbe, Nairobi and Johannesburg. FMITI said the addition of RwandAir expanded the network and offered exporters greater flexibility on existing routes.
Cargo rates on RwandAir-operated routes have been set at below $2/kg for exporters holding an AfCFTA Certificate of Origin, says Nigeria's Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Jumoke Oduwole. The ministry said exporters had previously paid between $3/kg and $10/kg on some East and Southern African routes.
Oduwole said the initiative was intended to improve market access and reduce logistics costs for Nigerian exporters. The corridor is expected to support sectors including agribusiness, fashion and textiles, cosmetics, processed foods and light manufacturing.
